LEADERSHIP

• Lead the section in alignment with organisational values, conduct standards and strategic priorities.
• Create a respectful, culturally safe and high-performing team environment.
• Provide clear direction and expectations to staff.
• Support staff development, engagement and wellbeing.
• Model safe, ethical and accountable leadership practices.

STRATEGY AND PLANNING

• Translate Service Area priorities into section-level operational plans.
• Contribute to business planning and reporting processes.
• Identify improvement opportunities within the section.
• Monitor performance against agreed objectives and take corrective action where required.
• Contributes to operational strategy development but does not determine organisational strategy.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders relevant to section operations.
• Engage respectfully with Traditional Owners where relevant to the section’s remit.
• Represent the section in operational forums as required.
• Escalate complex, high-risk or politically sensitive matters to the Service Area Manager.

SECTION OPERATIONS

• Develop and implement appropriate systems for managing and monitoring the NLC’s agreement-making legal practice.
• Supervise NLC lawyers in the making and implementation of agreements under NTA, and occasionally under the ALRA.
• Collaborate effectively with the other Legal Practice Managers to manage and support the work all NLC lawyers in a dynamic, collegiate and supportive service area.
• Collaborate effectively and work cooperatively with other (non-Legal) teams to prioritise matters, provide legal and strategic advice, coordinate and manage shared resources and budgets, and appropriately manage communications with external stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of agenda papers for the NLC’s Executive Council, Full Council, Regional Councils or native title holders’ prescribed bodies corporate (PBCs).
• Prepare budgets for negotiation projects, and monitor expenditure and project planning to ensure that funds are expended appropriately and efficiently.
• Act as the legal representative of:
  
  • Aboriginal people and groups claiming to have a traditional claim to land or compensation in respect of an area of land or waters within the area of the NLC;
  • Aboriginal people and groups and, where relevant, Aboriginal Land Trusts, Prescribed Bodies Corporate and other Aboriginal entities in relation to the use, management, occupation or development of their lands and seas;
  • NLC in the negotiation of exploration, mining and production agreements under the ALRA and the NTA;
  • Aboriginal people and groups in relation to the protection of sacred sites; and
  • Aboriginal people and groups in relation to fulfilling their aspirations for self-determination and social, cultural, economic and environmental development.
• Provide legal advice on matters in connection with the general administration and management of the NLC, Aboriginal Land Trusts, Prescribed Bodies Corporate and other Aboriginal entities.
• Work as a member of a multi-disciplinary organisation to ensure the effective delivery of NLC’s statutory functions under ALRA, NTA and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth).
• Maintain awareness of all laws and legislation of the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory which affect the functions of the NLC.
• Develop the NLC’s precedents for agreement-making, including templates, continuing improvement of processes for cost recovery, project management, client information, and negotiation tools.

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

• The role is accountable for section workforce performance but does not determine whole-of-service workforce architecture. It acts within the Management Levels of Authority and is accountable for:
  
  • Performance management of direct reports, including setting expectations, providing feedback, managing underperformance and recognising achievement.
  • Managing conduct, attendance and capability matters within delegation, including initiating formal processes where required.
  • Workforce planning within the section, including identifying capability gaps and resourcing needs.
  • Recruitment and selection processes within approved delegation and establishment.
  • Supporting development and succession planning within the section.
  • Implementing organisational people initiatives and change processes within the section.
• The role applies judgement in interpreting and applying people policies and procedures and escalates
  complex, high-risk or sensitive matters to the Service Area Manager or People & Culture where required.

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Promote and maintain a safe and healthy work environment within the section.
• Ensure compliance with the organisation’s WHS Management System and legislative obligations.
• Monitor and address safety risks and incidents within the section.
• Ensure staff understand and meet their WHS responsibilities.
• Escalate significant or systemic WHS risks.
• Accountable for WHS implementation and compliance within the section.